Starlings

Cleat Eastwood

now the nice weathers here I used to see masses of starlings funning about on the garden with their young - can count them on one hand now - is anyone else around the country noticing the dwindlingness of birds?

Redhog14

Au contraire monswear - many a wee swallow has come to visit my garden again, and some strange bird that I hear early doors makes a sort of yelping crying sound but I can never see it. The cat does it's bit for population control but the sparrows are still filling up the hedges.

capt_slog

Certainly not the number of starlings that I remember from years ago. We see pics on the news and nature programs now and then, of those huge flocks that form clouds in the sky, but it's been a while since I saw anything like around me (Derby-ish).

I have noticed a fall in the number of garden birds too, but a big increase in the magpie population. It was unusual to see more than a couple of magpies, but now it's fairly common for me to see 10+. Given that they will take a lot of baby birds from nests, perhaps the fall of one and rise of another are connected.

byke68

Plenty of birds (feathered!) around these parts. Starlings, Sparrows, tits of some kind, a pair of Doves and a pair of Magpies that live near-by. They ignore one of our cats when he's out, he just sits there watching them as they gather around the feeder.

Redhog14

Capt Slog wrote:

Certainly not the number of starlings that I remember from years ago. We see pics on the news and nature programs now and then, of those huge flocks that form clouds in the sky, but it's been a while since I saw anything like around me (Derby-ish).

I have noticed a fall in the number of garden birds too, but a big increase in the magpie population. It was unusual to see more than a couple of magpies, but now it's fairly common for me to see 10+. Given that they will take a lot of baby birds from nests, perhaps the fall of one and rise of another are connected.

Magpies were "controlled" (good euphamisim (sp) for hunted/slaughtered/murdered!) up untill recently, as I remember them being quite rare when I was a child now they are common place.

laurentian

Capt Slog wrote:

Certainly not the number of starlings that I remember from years ago. We see pics on the news and nature programs now and then, of those huge flocks that form clouds in the sky, but it's been a while since I saw anything like around me (Derby-ish).

I have noticed a fall in the number of garden birds too, but a big increase in the magpie population. It was unusual to see more than a couple of magpies, but now it's fairly common for me to see 10+. Given that they will take a lot of baby birds from nests, perhaps the fall of one and rise of another are connected.

There is an argument that says that if magpies predate on young songbirds, and increase in the magpie population can only be an indicator of a healthy number of their prey.

Similarly, I can only deduce that the swell in numbers of buzzards, now outnumbering the kestrel as the UKs most numerous bird of prey is down to an increase in the available food for them (small mammals etc. that I put down to the "set aside" areas on farmland). Incredibly, DEFRA are talking about controlling buzzards due to their predation on pheasant chicks reared for shooting. A native species being controlled to convenience the perpetuation of a non-native, artificially reared species - outrageous in my book.

And I f***ing hate cats!

Redhog14

laurentian wrote:

And I f***ing hate cats!

Easy Tiger you can't just swan in here expunging your contreversial views and opinions and not back them up without any hard evidence or basis whatsoever! Oh sorry I forgot I was on the internet for a minute...

but cats are soooo cute..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj3BBArd4so this is not me btw

esspeebee

Starling numbers in the UK have been dropping horribly since the 60s, so you will see a lot less of them than you used to. I think the common theory is that it's caused by a change in farming habits meaning less permanent pasture land that they used to feed on. Fortunately they're still going strong in other parts of Europe, but they're in danger of disappearing from Britain.

esspeebee

laurentian wrote:

There is an argument that says that if magpies predate on young songbirds, and increase in the magpie population can only be an indicator of a healthy number of their prey.

For monophagous species, yes. But the magpie, like most corvids, will eat just about anything it can get. If there's a sudden increase in edible (for birds) waste being thrown onto a landfill tip outside a city, that can be enough to cause a large increase in the numbers of magpies/crows/ravens/other local scavengers, which will then start preying on the other local wildlife as well.

pdstsp

I don't know why but I cannot stand starlings - I can handle any bird without a problem but if a starling gets in the house or I find an injured one I cannot do a thing - sometimes feel sick - very weird. So f### off starlings. (And cats).

finchy

laurentian wrote:

Incredibly, DEFRA are talking about controlling buzzards due to their predation on pheasant chicks reared for shooting. A native species being controlled to convenience the perpetuation of a non-native, artificially reared species - outrageous in my book.

Talking about the pheasants or the aristocracy here?

capt_slog

laurentian wrote:

There is an argument that says that if magpies predate on young songbirds, and increase in the magpie population can only be an indicator of a healthy number of their prey.



And I f***ing hate cats!

I can see that being true, for perhaps the first year or so. Then we'll have the situation where there's so few song birds around that the magpies will decline too, there's probably a cycle to it.

I had to look up 'monophagous', and I understand the point that they will eat anything, but I'm guessing that they feed their chicks on young birds when they can get them rather than leftover chips.

mudcow007

aye loads of swallows around these ways recently an quite a few robin's (i thought these were winter burds?!)

an fecking loads of magpies, is it true you can shoot them, as they are classed as vermin?

DrKJM

I believe you have to have a licence to kill any of the lawful quarry species but there is a standing licence (that is, the Secretary of State issues a licence to cover everyone) for some Corvid species (although not all - Choughs are protected) and pigeons. You can't just kill them for fun though. To be covered by the licence you have to be able to demonstrate that they are a pest.

Lots of magpies round here, but also lots of sparrows, wrens, long tailed tits, blue tits, wood pigeons. Not as many jackdaws as a couple of years ago. Lots of starlings too. They nest in next door's roof and have done for the last 16 years to my knowledge. Maybe longer.

laurentian

Redhog14 wrote:

laurentian wrote:

And I f***ing hate cats!

Easy Tiger you can't just swan in here expunging your contreversial views and opinions and not back them up without any hard evidence or basis whatsoever! Oh sorry I forgot I was on the internet for a minute...

but cats are soooo cute..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj3BBArd4so this is not me btw

Domestic cats are a non-native species that predate on the indigenous wildlife (small mammals and birds) of the UK. They can be owned by anyone, are not licensed and have freedom to roam and kill (and defacate!) with impunity.

If there were no cats in the UK today and someone wanted to import them for sale as household pets with no barrier to ownership, licensing or obligation to control them, I would hope that it would not be allowed.

I would happily support any organisation dedicated to the elimination of the domestic cat in the UK.

<<runs for cover>>

team47b

ALIENS ATE MY STARLINGS

gog555

Must get most of them in my garden then, its not uncommon to have 30+ at a time!

pinno

In my garden or visiting the bird table are: Wrens, blackbirds, wood pidgeons, thrushes, jackdaws, pheasants, chaffinches, goldfinches, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, tree creepers, siskins, dunnocks, house sparrows, house martins, swallows, 1 lesser spotted woodpecker, long tail tits, collared doves, greenfinches, robins, starlings, rooks (the b@st@rds), gold crests, grass hopper warbler (sounds like a fishing reel) and a few summer visitors.
We have a large garden and we never use persticides, chemicals, weedkillers or anything un-organic.
7 dwarf apple trees, 3 plum tress. Hedges are a mixture of beech, sycamore, ewe, hawthorne and some Rhodadendron, so lots of nesting places and lots of blossom to attract bees and insects which in turn attract birds.
The house martins come every year and nest in the garage. 9 times out of ten I have to put a piece of wood and a nail on one of the beams to assist them 'cos it keeps falling down. I have put the mud mixture back numerous times wedged to the beam on top of a piece of wood many times thinking all the while that they might be disuaded, but no. They must be used to me. Leaves the tinkering of bikes in summer to an outside persuit to leave them to shag a lot and nest in peace.
I have 2 cats and we keep them in at night. The only thing they catch is mice and voles.

Boy this is a long thread... nearly done. I used to work in Gloucester and the work yard was over the canal past the Sir Donald Campbell Pub, so I used to love watching the starlings swoop around at dusk - magic.
I did'nt answer the question and I don't know what the answer is.

byke68

laurentian wrote:

Redhog14 wrote:

laurentian wrote:

And I f***ing hate cats!

Easy Tiger you can't just swan in here expunging your contreversial views and opinions and not back them up without any hard evidence or basis whatsoever! Oh sorry I forgot I was on the internet for a minute...

but cats are soooo cute..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj3BBArd4so this is not me btw

Domestic cats are a non-native species that predate on the indigenous wildlife (small mammals and birds) of the UK. They can be owned by anyone, are not licensed and have freedom to roam and kill (and defacate!) with impunity.

If there were no cats in the UK today and someone wanted to import them for sale as household pets with no barrier to ownership, licensing or obligation to control them, I would hope that it would not be allowed.

I would happily support any organisation dedicated to the elimination of the domestic cat in the UK.

<<runs for cover>>

The same goes for dogs! At least I never stand in cat sh*t on paths or the pavement. I never hear of banned cats attacking children or tattoed thugs in combat trousers walking their muzzled pitcat.

Cleat Eastwood

pinarello001 wrote:

In my garden or visiting the bird table are: Wrens, blackbirds, wood pidgeons, thrushes, jackdaws, pheasants, chaffinches, goldfinches, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, tree creepers, siskins, dunnocks, house sparrows, house martins, swallows, 1 lesser spotted woodpecker, long tail tits, collared doves, greenfinches, robins, starlings, rooks (the b@st@rds), gold crests, grass hopper warbler (sounds like a fishing reel) and a few summer visitors.
We have a large garden and we never use persticides, chemicals, weedkillers or anything un-organic.
7 dwarf apple trees, 3 plum tress. Hedges are a mixture of beech, sycamore, ewe, hawthorne and some Rhodadendron, so lots of nesting places and lots of blossom to attract bees and insects which in turn attract birds.
The house martins come every year and nest in the garage. 9 times out of ten I have to put a piece of wood and a nail on one of the beams to assist them 'cos it keeps falling down. I have put the mud mixture back numerous times wedged to the beam on top of a piece of wood many times thinking all the while that they might be disuaded, but no. They must be used to me. Leaves the tinkering of bikes in summer to an outside persuit to leave them to shag a lot and nest in peace.
I have 2 cats and we keep them in at night. The only thing they catch is mice and voles.

Boy this is a long thread... nearly done. I used to work in Gloucester and the work yard was over the canal past the Sir Donald Campbell Pub, so I used to love watching the starlings swoop around at dusk - magic.
I did'nt answer the question and I don't know what the answer is.

That sounds brilliant - bees are under threat from Monsanto's genetically modified products

http://naturalsociety.com/monsanto-bee- ... arch-firm/

http://foodfreedomgroup.com/2012/03/22/319/

its really sad.

they need all the help they can get. i love dwarves, i love apples, i love trees, dwarf apple trees sound awesome.

pinno

Dwarf apple varieties 'cos its bloody windy up here. Gavin, Sunset, Reverend Greaves, Jamers Grieve, Nettleston Pippin and Bramley - come on up in Autumn and grab a few kilos make duty free bootleg cider and get pi$$ed as a fart.

For all those out there that use 'Roundup'.

1) Made by Monsanto. Monsanto sell the 3rd world GM seed. Farmers keep one third to re-sow, one third to sell and one third to eat. Great bumper crop in the first year, but the re-sowed seed does not yield anything because its hybrid.
So millions of farmers are locked in to re-buying seed or going bankrupt - duped into an incidious loop.
2) Monsanto lost their case in the US supreme court and have set aside $22.4B, yes billion dollars for the impending compensation claims because workers who were making chemicals that were used in Agent Orange have won their case after many became very ill or have subsequently died (relatives have the right to sue). Lovely company Monsanto. I bet the Vietnamese victims could'nt claim, pity.

Saturday rant over. I'm off to cycle in a proper Scirrocco !!

Wirral_paul

pinarello001 wrote:

great tits,

My personal favourite!! :twisted: